There’s probably a
lot of folks who were delighted when a Cold Stone Creamery set up shop in
what was then the new strip mall on Indian Boundary Road, some years ago.

Those same people
probably were stunned when the Cold Stone--after only a few months in
business--closed its doors.

For Victoria Brock
of Westchester Township, that’s an all-too-common story among the businesses
operating along and off Indian Boundary Road east of Ind. 49.

As Brock told the
Chesterton Town Council at its meeting Monday night, by her count nearly 20
businesses have failed in that neck of the woods over the years: Schoops,
Rob’s Hot Dog, Quiznos, and the list goes on.

Meanwhile, west of
Ind. 49, there isn’t nearly the turnover, Brock noted.

“I know signage is
a problem,” she said. “I’m not here to ask for that. I’m here to ask if
there’s some kind of relief.”

But signage isn’t
the only problem, Brock told members. “You have to be a local to get to
Applebee’s,” she said. “You need a road map. I defy anyone not local to find
a way in. And when you do go to a restaurant like Applebee’s, it’s never
full. The same with the Sunrise Cafe, Sage, Third Coast.”

Is it possible,
Brock wondered, to re-design access to these businesses? “Because it’s
really not consumer friendly, it’s really not visitor friendly.”

“I believe these
businesses are important to this town,” Brock added. “How can we salvage
them? There’s such a variety. Without them, we’re really going to be hurting
in Chesterton.”